Twenty-two undercover police teams will be deployed in the capital from Saturday to 'keep an eye on the opposition' and fight serious crime as well.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shahudul Haq at a meeting yesterday with top officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Special Branch (SB), Detective Branch (DB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Police Headquarters laid down the guidelines for their operations.

The teams, each having six personnel, are officially said to have been formed to deal with serious crime. But sources close to the Police Headquarters said their main focus will be to keep a watch on the opposition activities and report to their superiors to help foil attempts to launch anti-government agitation.

A high police official, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star, "The teams will track down notorious criminals who have so far evaded arrest. This time, though, we believe these teams will be able to arrest them."

The IGP at the meeting assigned the additional commissioner of DMP to supervise the teams to be headed by the deputy commissioner of DB.

The SB provided human resources for six teams, DB four, CID three and DMP nine.

An inspector will head each team that will also have a sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) and two constables.

The government earlier introduced Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from Pahela Baishakh -- the first month of Bangla New Year -- to combat crime. However, the elite force formed predominantly with members of the armed forces has been keeping a low profile.